Name: How to Peel a Pomegranate Without a Mess
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: pomegranates

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If you've ever tried to cut and de-seed a pomegranate, you probably ended up with stained hands and nothing less of a crime scene. I too struggled with how to peel a pomegranate, resulting in expensive Pom pomegranate purchases from the grocery store. My smoothies were suffering, and I had to find another way.

This post is how I batch cut and de-seed pomegranates, so I have pomegranate seeds for my pomegranate smoothie, hummus fatteh, better than baba ganoush eggplant dip, killer fatoush salad, and whatever else my heart fancies. Not to mention, pomegranates are much cheaper when in season (during the late summer and early winter months), so this is a great solution for saving a little bit of money.

What I Love About This Technique

This pomegranate peeling technique is a time-saver and stain-reducer. I just cut and de-seeded 10 pomegranates in less than 15 minutes, filling 2-gallon size freezer bags. My hands are unstained and my clothes are still in good shape.

How To Tell If A Pomegranate Is Ripe

A pomegranate becomes less round and more angular as it ripens. The color of the pomegranate exterior should be a shade of red with no shades of green. A ripe pomegranate should feel heavy when picked up because the seeds are full of juice. Also, the texture of the skin is a good indication. Thin and rough skin indicates a more ripe pomegranate vs. a pomegranate with thick and smooth skin.

How To Tell If A Pomegranate Is Bad

If your pomegranate smells or tastes off, chances are it's bad. Another way of determining a bad pomegranate is by color and texture. If the color of the seeds or peel is dark brown or the fruit is mushy when held, the fruit has gone bad.

How to Cut a Pomegranate

The messiest part of this process is cutting the pomegranate into quarters. I recommend cutting all of the pomegranates at the same time to minimize the mess.

Cut the ends off the pomegranate. Slice the pomegranate into quarters. One tip for reducing the pomegranate splash is to keep the pomegranate together while you cut it. The seeds have nowhere to squirt.

Place the pomegranate quarters in a large bowl.

How to De-Seed a Pomegranate

Put a few pomegranate quarters in a large bowl of water. Remove the seeds while submerged in the water. The seeds should separate fairly easily from the peel.

2 pomegranate quarters in a large bowl of water

The peel will float to the top, and the pomegranate seeds will sink to the bottom. Remove the peel from the top of the water.

the pomegranate peel floating to the surface when deseeding the pomegranate

Continue de-seeding the pomegranate quarters. Strain the pomegranate seeds using a strainer. Store the pomegranate seeds in a freezer-friendly storage bag.

straining the pomegranate seeds using a strainer

How To Remove Pomegranate Juice Stain

If you happen to get pomegranate juice on your clothes, follow this method for removing the pomegranate stain. Don't wait for the stain to set into the fabric. Lay the fabric on top of a bowl. Pour boiling water over the fabric and use a toothbrush to brush out the stain. If the stain doesn't go, add some stain remover. Brush again. Wash the fabric as you normally would.

Health Benefits Of Pomegranate

Pomegranates are jam-packed with nutrients and antioxidants. This sweet delicious fruit has immune-boosting Vitamin C and studies have shown and prostate cancer and heart disease amongst other things.

Storage

Store pomegranate seeds in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 or 5 days. Pomegranate seeds store very well in an airtight freezer bag in the freezer for up to 4 months.

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